Roman Lopez v. Parkoff Operating Corp.
- Stewart Aaron
- 1:23-cv-02953
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 2
In Alfredo Roman Lopez v. Parkoff Operating Corp., Judge Aaron ordered the parties to file information supporting review of their Fair Labor Standards Act settlement.
Plaintiff Alfredo Roman Lopez and defendants Parkoff Operating Corp. et al.; the parties must submit a joint settlement-review filing by May 30, 2025.
What happened
Alfredo Roman Lopez v. Parkoff Operating Corp. involves one or more claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act. After mediation, the parties reached a settlement in principle and agreed that Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron would handle all proceedings.
Judge Aaron required the parties to file a joint letter or motion addressing whether the settlement is fair and reasonable. The filing must discuss the claims, defenses, possible damages, the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s case, the settlement negotiations, and other relevant factors. It is due May 30, 2025.
Judge Aaron also required the parties to explain the attorney-fee arrangement, provide the fee agreement and information about the lawyers’ work and experience, and attach the settlement agreement. The order did not itself rule on whether the settlement is fair and reasonable.
The detailed version
- Roman Lopez v. Parkoff Operating Corp. · No. 1:23-cv-02953
- Stewart Aaron
- May 16, 2025
Background
The case includes one or more claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law governing matters such as wages and working hours. After mediation, the parties reached a settlement in principle. The parties later consented to have all proceedings handled by Stewart D. Aaron, a United States magistrate judge.
Required settlement filing
The court cited a Second Circuit decision requiring judicial review of certain Fair Labor Standards Act settlements. It ordered the parties to file a joint letter or motion by May 30, 2025, addressing whether their settlement is fair and reasonable.
The filing must address the claims and defenses, the defendants’ potential financial exposure and the basis for calculating it, the strengths and weaknesses of the plaintiff’s case and the defendants’ defenses, any reasons for a difference between the potential value of the claims and the settlement amount, the litigation and negotiation process, and other relevant issues, including whether a judgment could be collected after trial.
The filing must also explain the attorney-fee arrangement, attach the fee agreement, provide information about the attorneys’ hours worked and relevant experience, and include a copy of the settlement agreement.
Disposition
The order directed the parties to submit the specified settlement-review materials. It did not itself decide whether the settlement is fair and reasonable.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.